The East Haven animal control department picked up the skunk on Monday, the health department said.

The department also asks that anyone whose dogs or other domestic animals have been in contact with a skunk in that area this area in the past week or so contact East Haven Animal Control at (203) 468-3249.

With the weather now turning colder, animals are seeking shelter, according to the health department.

“We want residents to be aware that they could encounter more wild animals if they have spaces on their property where animals may find shelter from the elements.” Alex Cinotti, assistant director of the East Shore District Health Department, said in a release.

“All residents should take safety measures. In Connecticut, rabies is usually carried by skunks, raccoons, and bats but any mammal could carry the disease,” the release noted. “The Health Department wants to remind residents to protect themselves and their pets from contact with these wild animals.”

According to the state Department of Public Health, “Rabies is a viral disease primarily of animals caused by infection of the brain and spinal cord. People get rabies from the bite of an infected animal. In many areas of the developing world including Asia, Africa, and South America, it is attributable most often to dog bites.

“In the United States, where rabies in dogs has been largely eliminated, rabies is still widespread in wildlife. Bats, raccoons, skunk, and fox are the major reservoirs and serve as a source of potential infection for other animals and people,” the DPH site says.

Precautions that you can take:

Vaccinate your pets. Be sure pet dogs, cats and ferrets as well as horses and valuable livestock animals are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations. Pets too young to be vaccinated should be kept indoors and allowed outside only under direct observation.

Keep family pets indoors at night. Don’t leave them outside unattended or let them roam free.

Block up any places where animals may find shelter, under sheds, in crawl spaces, etc.

Don’t feed, touch or adopt wild animals, stray dogs or cats. Enjoy wildlife from a distance. If you see an animal that is sick, injured or orphaned, call an animal control officer or a wildlife rehabilitator. Do not handle the animal yourself.

Get wild animals removed from your home. If nuisance wild animals are living in parts of your home, consult with a nuisance wildlife control expert about having them removed.

Teach children not to touch any animal they do not know and to tell an adult immediately if they are bitten by any animal.

Let wild animals wander away if they are on your property. Bring children and pets indoors and alert neighbors who are outside.

Report all animal bites or contact with wild animals to your local health department. If possible, do not let any animal escape that has possibly exposed someone to rabies.To learn more about rabies in both humans and animals, contact the Centers for Disease Control at 1-800- CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636), or visit www.cdc.gov/rabies. For more information, contact the East Shore District Health Department, serving the towns of Branford, North Branford, and East Haven at (203)-481-4233 or by visiting www.ESDHD.org.

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